Art viewed as a catalyst for social change
CLASS PROVIDES A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE IDEAS
Art as a part of social change was the theme of a Saturday class at the Lethbridge Public Library.
“Make Art Make a Difference – A Marketplace of Ideas” provided an afternoon of sharing and connection as artists, change-makers and citizens came together to spark ideas for community-engaged arts initiatives in Lethbridge and the surrounding area.
Kristina Larkin is a community member interested in art and social change who was part of the event on Saturday. She said it is part of ongoing efforts to promote art and social change in Lethbridge.
“It’s a way for us to share small snippets of ideas to a larger idea very quickly, in threeminute pitches so people can network and generate actual projects or find people to work together,” she said.
Those in attendance were given an opportunity to listen and share their project ideas, resources and needs, as well as their passion for arts — based social change.
Lisa Doolittle is a researcher in a national project called Art for Social Change. She said the five-year study has revealed the power of creating art, in particular, participatory art.
“This isn’t doing art about social change so much as doing art as part of social change,” she said.
She said the power of art to evoke emotions and to bring people together and it can envision a direction for the future when it comes to the social change agenda.
Make Art Make a Difference is a grassroots event organized by community activists and artists who meet to learn about art for social change and to share their work.
For more information, please visit make-artmake-difference.eventbrite.ca.
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